“Old Imperialism” and the Slave Trade It’s effect on Africa
“Old Imperialism” Result of European Exploration (spices and gold) Attempting to remove control from the Arab traders and Muslim Empires Europeans mostly established trading posts along the coasts of Africa, South Asia, and South-East Asia Cooperated and traded with local leaders and cultures The exception was in the New World where the Spanish, Portuguese, and English settled the land using native slave labor Demand for goods from the New World continued to grow in Europe Tobacco Cotton but, especially SUGAR!
“Old Imperialism”
Need for Cheap Labor Native Slave labor system failed Disease They could escape – knew the land and could hide African slaves had been bought and sold or centuries by Muslim Empires The Portuguese were the first to realize the value of the slave trade At first, wealthy Europeans sought slaves as domestic servants Planters, needing cheap labor to replace Native Slaves, saw their answer in the African Slave Trade
Slave Trade First slaves captured by raiding villages Eventually, began trading with local rulers for prisoners of war Horses Weapons Cloth Finished goods Lead to increased conflict throughout West and Equatorial Africa
Triangle Trade Question…What was Triangle Trade?
Triangle Trade
“Middle Passage”
Triangle Trade
Abolition of Slavery Slave trade ended for multiple reasons Social – Europeans and Americans became more and more troubled with the enslavement of other human beings British Abolitionists were first - William Wilberforce Banning of Slave Trade passed by Parliament in 1807 US Abolitionist Movement/Civil War Slave & African Resistance Armed resistance by tribes in Africa as traders moved further inland Revolt in Saint-Dominique (Haiti) – Francois-Dominique Toussaint Economic – Industrial Revolution decreased the need for slave labor
Abolition of Slavery End of Slave Trade DID NOT mean an end to slavery! 1813: Argentina. 1851: Ecuador 1814: Colombia. 1854: Peru and Venezuela 1823: Chile. 1863: United States 1824: Central America 1863: Dutch colonies 1829: Mexico. 1871: Brazil 1831: Bolivia. 1873: Puerto Rico 1833: Britain. 1886: Cuba 1842: Uruguay. 1888: Brazil 1848: French and Danish colonies1960s: Saudi Arabia and Angola
Effects of the Slave Trade Human cost 10,000,000 – 12,000,000 Africans sold into slavers Countless numbers died in battles, forced marches, in transit, or resisting African Kingdoms Entire communities were devastated Many smaller tribes and societies disappeared Continuous warfare among rival kingdoms for prisoners to sell as slaves Economically dependent on European goods African Diaspora Spread of African people and culture across the globe Especially the New World Permanently changed the racial make-up of entire societies
Long-Term Effects of the Slave Trade Specifically in Africa Sex-Ratio – since most slaves were male, societies left with few men Population Growth – it is estimated that the population in Africa was half of what it should have been in 1850 Political Instability – since the population had been so decimated, political power became fragmented to local tribes/rulers.
Long-Term Effects of the Slave Trade Specifically in Africa (cont.) Societal “Weakness” – Instability and population issues hindered the growth of larger political/national structures, keeping Africa relatively weak (unlike power in Europe and Muslim World) No Economic Development – As Industrialization and trade strengthened Europe and the Muslim World, Africa remained centuries behind Loss of Identity – African descendants around the world, and even in parts of Africa, lost any sense of culture and identity. This makes unity among people even more difficult
“New Imperialism” THESE 6 EFFECTS MADE AFRICA SUSCEPTIBLE TO FUTURE EXPLOITATION Europe will change its approach to Africa in the 1880’s starting with actions in the Congo by King Leopold of Belgium Soon, all the major European Powers will return to Africa with a new mission!